The Order of Business is No. 1, Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill, 2001 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes; and No. 17, motion No. 24, to be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Business, if not previously concluded, will resume thereafter.
Order of Business.
I ask the Leader to provide time today for a debate on the health services. It is very important that the Minister for Health and Children or the Taoiseach is given an opportunity to come to this House to elaborate in full as to what went on in Ballymascanlon. It appears from the information available to date that it was nothing more than a PR sham. While a bullish Minister for Health and Children went into the meeting, he came out in a rather sheepish fashion. Unfortunately for many ill people, it was not very encouraging in view of the prior publicity prior suggesting that something positive would emerge.
I wish to raise the issue of the current state of industrial unrest and the difficulties arising with regard to the future of social partnership, which is critical to the future of the economy. Will the Leader provide time to debate this issue and invite the Minister to come to the House to address it?
The House has raised a number of issues recently and requests have been put to the Leader on health, education and other services, so perhaps it is time to have a more fundamental debate such as what to do with tax revenue. Should it be used to reduce taxes or improve social services in health, education and housing? That would be a significant issue to put on the record of the House, rather than for people on both sides to stand up with shopping lists of what they want. It would be a more sincere debate if the Leader would encourage the broader debate on the redistribution of the tax revenues of the State.
I raise another issue advisedly and in the sense of trying to be helpful. It is important in these days of pluralism to reflect on the openness and honesty of the Taoiseach in terms of his personal relationship. I feel uncomfortable discussing somebody's personal relationship, but it is important for this House not to pass judgment on how people run their lives. There should be parity of esteem in terms of relationships.
I do not think this is appropriate or relevant to the Order of Business.
The office in terms of public representation has got a lot of unfair criticism. This has nothing to do with parties or taking political shots, but it is important that as public representatives our private lives are protected. It is the precedent of the State that the Taoiseach and partner host receptions, and the partner is the choice of the Taoiseach, be it wife or husband or whatever other partner that happens to be.
Senator, this House is not involved in the protocol to which you are referring.
I accept your ruling, a Chathaoirligh, and will say no more than that the House has a duty to protect public representatives and to ensure that their profile and reputation are protected. Were any other Member of the Oireachtas involved, whether in this or the other House, or indeed the President, I would make the same case. These matters are important and I would like that message conveyed to the Taoiseach.
I add my voice to the call for the Minister for Health and Children to come into the House, following the Ballymascanlon fiasco. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, certainly said so. He wanted to have nothing to do with the multi-billion—
We are not discussing any other meeting. I assume the Senator is calling for a debate on health matters.
The discussion is coming from the other side of the House. I am calling for a debate on the health services and I want the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to come into the House. It was trumpeted that a huge amount of money was to be injected into the health services as a result of this meeting. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, has firmly slammed the door on that. The health service is in a shambles and I would like to hear how the Minister for Health and Children proposes to proceed now. I am entitled to ask for that debate.
I ask the Leader of the House to facilitate us with a debate on the question of the price of drink and the licensing of licensed premises. Members of the vintners' federation are meeting at present and we have the usual bleatings from them that any increase in licences would ruin the fabric of society, would be counterproductive and would not result in any reduction in prices. Then we have the Minister calling on the same people for a voluntary price freeze, which is like calling on a piranha or shark not to use its teeth. It has never happened in the past and is unlikely to happen now. I would like an opportunity to see what the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Kitt, proposes to do because he has been issuing these bleatings for the past 12 months and has taken no action on the exorbitant price of drink in public houses since the price freeze was lifted.
I ask that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, clarify the situation in relation to the proposed sale of Clancy Barracks. There is a contradiction between the statement of the assistant city manager that Clancy Barracks has not been offered to Dublin Corporation for purchase and the indication by the Minister for Defence that it has. I ask the Minister to make it clear whether the local authority was given first option on this very important parcel of land, which the councillors unanimously agreed to use to deal with the homeless and to alleviate the housing crisis in Dublin.
I agree with the request that this House should have a comprehensive, preferably all-day, debate on health and the delivery of health services to people in need. Delivering a decent health service to all our citizens will be very challenging and will require putting in place our best ideas. Members of this House will have to put their heads together in a constructive debate with a view to bringing about long overdue improvements in the delivery of the health service.
No purpose is served by describing the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, as being sheepish on any occasion or by calling a meeting a fiasco. This House owes it to patients, who are getting a very poor service for the taxpayers' money put into the health services, to debate the matter calmly and reasonably with a view to bringing about badly needed improvements.
As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I express my good wishes to the Leader of the House and the members of the Fianna Fáil group opposite on the 75th anniversary of the founding of their party.
I ask the Leader to update the House on the timescale for taking the Local Government Bill. Many of the matters raised in the Ombudsman's report relate to local government and Departments. Has a date been set for taking the report?
I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, to come to the House to debate some of the changes occurring in the area of the environment and local govern ment, in particular the housing strategies currently before local authorities. The debate should include the inequity between funding for county councils and city boroughs. Most cities are being strangled because they lack adequate funding and as they are the country's flagships that issue must be examined seriously.
I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his good wishes on the 75th anniversary of Fianna Fáil. On such an anniversary it is time to look at the balance between the east and west coasts and to get rid of the Pale. I look forward to a better balance in terms of distribution of funds.
I am sure Senators join me in welcoming a group of visitors to the House from the Limerick area who are asylum seekers from Nigeria and Bulgaria, among other places. They are accompanied by Sister Anne Scully, co-ordinator of an anti-racism organisation.
The Senator should be aware that it is not in order for Members of the House to welcome persons.
I was unaware as I do not have visitors, but in this case they should be recognised.
We welcome them in any case.
A Senator
Hear, hear.
A request which I previously made to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform relates to refugees and asylum seekers, namely that those who have been here six months prior to December 2000 should be allowed to work. This would certainly reduce tremendously the level of racism. They do not want to avail of the weekly £15 social welfare payment; they want to contribute economically.
We are not debating this matter now. I take it that you are seeking a debate on it. Please address your request to the Leader of the House.
I address myself to the Leader of the House. I ask for the Minister to accept the right to work of those who have been in residence for six months prior to December 2000. They do not wish to avail of social welfare and want to contribute economically and socially to the life of the country. I also ask that the Minister expedite the processing of applications. I cannot believe, given the small numbers, this cannot be dealt with—
The Senator should make a speech about it tonight.
There is a motion tonight and I ask if the Minister will be prepared to answer those questions when he comes in to the House.
I refer to motor insurance premia and a recent report by the department of statistics in DCU which reveals there to be a profit of £211 per policy relating to young people. Even more interestingly, female drivers produce a profit of over £730 per policy. Over the years, the insurance federation has assured us that it approaches insurance on a purely equitable basis. This report shows that it is not equitable when some are being overcharged. I ask the Leader of the House to arrange a debate on the motor insurance industry.
I join Senator Liam Cosgrave in congratulating Fianna Fáil and I extend my congratulations to the Leader of the House on his safe return from the long march to the Mansion House.
I ask the Leader of the House about progress, if any, on Government plans to ratify the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It is particularly important that we do so as a copper-fastener, especially in light of the activities of the French, which are still being revealed as I have said before. In The Irish Times today there is an article about a retired French officer, General Paul Aussaresses, in whose name the double consonant SS appears twice. He praises what he calls the efficacy of torture. These are the people we will be in cahoots with militarily if we pass the referendum on the Nice treaty.
Although we are not to recognise our friends from Limerick formally, because it was not done in the proper way, they might be glad to know that we will discuss tonight the issue of racism involving asylum seekers. I hope there will be a very full attendance and that the kinds of question there was an attempt to raise can be directed to the Minister.
I return to an issue I have raised before, asking the Minister for Public Enterprise how her Department intends to provide broadband services within the BMW region. Some companies, such as Eircom and others, have decided not to take up their contracts on the first round. It is important that when the next round is presented to those companies the Minister outlines to the House how broadband services will be spread throughout the State.
I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on how we spend our resources in the future. That is important, particularly when one hears some unions talking about the future of national pay agreements and how resources will be spent. It is important to address that issue. Money is not the answer to some of our problems, but it is important to discuss how it should be spent and to plan for the future. This issue should be dealt with in a balanced way for all the people of the State.
I join Senator Taylor-Quinn in calling for an urgent debate on health, partic ularly in view of worrying recent developments and the contrary signals which emanated from a recent Cabinet meeting.
Is the independent consultants' review of the stadium project, which was announced by the Government, merely a cosmetic exercise? The Government announced that it would also review the cost of relocating the State laboratories in Abbotstown to County Kildare. As all Members of the House are aware, advertisements by the Office of Public Works appeared in yesterday's newspapers inviting contractors to indicate their interest with a view to tendering during June and July.
We cannot get into this matter on the Order of Business.
I appreciate that.
I ask the Senator to put a brief question to the Leader of the House.
I ask the Leader for a debate on this matter. The independent consultants will not be commissioned until June and a report is not expected for three months. However, the advertisements suggest that contractors could be on site in August. Is the Government continuing with this project regardless of the review?
Contrary to what Senator Costello said, I was at a meeting of the Dublin licensed vintners' association yesterday which unanimously agreed that there would not be price increases for the remainder of this year.
Will we get our back money?
Order, please.
For the past six months I have been raising the issue of the £60 million due to be allocated to Cork Airport. The consultants are now in place and work will start shortly. I thank the Leader for the representations he made to the Minister about this issue.
That is nice.
Senator O'Toole is right about the need for an urgent discussion on how we spend our money. Our health system is diabolical. More than £5 billion has been spent on it, but the problem has still not been solved. There is agreement, particularly with the unions, about how our money should be spent. It is well worth this House's time to say where we think it should be spent. In the early 1990s people with hip problems were sent to other parts of this country for operations. Perhaps we should consider doing that again if operations cannot be done in the Republic as a matter of urgency. If money is available, we should spend it wisely to ensure that people are kept in good health. It is a serious issue.
I support the call by Senator Fitzpatrick for a debate on the motor insurance industry. I ask the Leader to bring to the attention of the Minister the abhorrent practice of automatically loading penalties on drivers when they reach 70 years of age. This loading is imposed without reference to a person's state of health or driving record. No calls are made for medical records. Drivers on meagre incomes, who have been driving all their lives with a clean record and are in perfect health, attempt to bargain down the loading, but find themselves unable to move to another motor insurance company. It is blatant discrimination and an abhorrent practice. I call for a debate on the matter.
I support the call for a wide-ranging debate on the health crisis. One cannot deny that we have a major problem on our hands when it is reported that a public patient must wait three years for an appointment.
Will the Leader of the House inform us when it is planned to publish the legislation on money advice bureaux? This legislation will place on a statutory basis the money advice bureaux which are run by health boards across the country and help those suffering poverty. Despite the economic boom which the majority are experiencing, many remain in difficult circumstances. The Government Whip indicated that the Bill was to be published in mid-2001, which is rapidly approaching.
When will we have a debate on the situation in the Middle East and the position of the Palestinian people? The Leader of the House promised that a debate would take place soon. The situation in the Middle East is out of control, as is the Israeli Government. The Israelis are attacking police stations and children and it is time for somebody to shout "stop." I want to have a good debate and if there are contrary ideas on the issue, it would be good to hear them in the House.
There are many foreign affairs matters that could be addressed if we were to have a day-long debate, which could be compartmentalised into discussion of various issues which should include the diabolical situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the problems in Angola, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, much of west Africa and the Great Lakes area. There is a need for debate among the representatives of a country which has the privilege of having democratic government, even though at times it appears that the Government is doing nothing.
The report on the health service raises issues which are being addressed by the Government, although the demographic changes are creating new pressures. The population rise forecast for the next 20 years will create problems. We should congratulate the Minister for Health and Children on his achievements in the past two years and the amount of money spent. We must, however, address equally the politics of the medical profession—
That can be done in the debate which has been sought.
I remind the Leader of the House that it is best to strike when the iron is hot. This is an old adage, but a true one and I use it with regard to the Ombudsman's report. The further we move away from that report, the less effective any debate in the House will be. Will the Leader of the House bring forward the debate on the matter to which he committed two weeks ago?
I also wish to raise the issue of radon gas. While it is not a sexy subject for the media, it is important to recognise that there are dangers involved. I ask for a debate on the matter to be held as soon as possible.
I congratulate Fianna Fáil Members on the occasion of their 75th anniversary celebrations. It was on this date that the party was founded by Mr. Éamon de Valera in La Scala on O'Connell Street. While I would fall out with Fianna Fáil Members on 99% of the matters they suggest, which is my role, it is only appropriate to wish them a happy birthday.
I join in the call for a debate on the health service. The issue is not, simply, one of resources given that the Government has increased funding by £2.5 billion. Will the Leader, in arranging this debate, ensure that it is not just a party political exercise but that it is a constructive debate? The motion framed for the debate should encompass value for money and quality of management. Those are serious issues in the public service and of immense importance in the health services where there are serious deficiencies. Huge resources have been gobbled up by vested interests, rather than focused on the patients. This House should convey to the Minister for Health and Children that a renowned international consultancy agency should be employed to undertake a root and branch analysis of the health services to ensure that value for money is achieved. Ultimately it should be the patients, and the public, who benefit from the huge resources – almost £5.5 billion – which are now spent on public health.
I support the calls for a debate on the health services, in which we should point out that health care is needed by young families in particular.
An increasing number of young parents are coming to my clinics who cannot secure accommodation because they are receiving rent allowance. Landlords are discriminating against people who are in receipt of that allowance. Some accommodation advertisements in the newspapers state that rent allowance applicants are not welcome. It is totally unacceptable. Young families now go into bed and breakfast accommodation and live in despair ing and desperate conditions. This needs an urgent debate.
I welcome the call for debate on the health service. As someone who has worked in the health service for most of my life, I believe it is high time that a Government followed the money through the system in order to bring about greater efficiency. As Senator Walsh said, it is not good enough to throw money at it. Over the last four years £3 billion has been spent in addition to what was allocated. It is difficult to reconcile expenditure of that magnitude with a public patient waiting three years to be seen, as claimed by Senator O'Meara.
It is true.
I congratulate the Government on having recognised this need and taken the initial steps to bring about greater efficiency.
What plan? Where is it?
I ask the Leader for a debate on the state of our non-national roads. We hear about the Luas light-rail system and all sorts of motorways. Our minor county roads are in poor shape. With all that is being spent, are we getting value for money? It is worthy of a debate in this Chamber. It has nothing to do with the National Roads Authority. The minor roads of rural Ireland and the peripheral areas which I represent are not improving. We should have a debate on this, possibly before the summer recess.
Senators Taylor-Quinn, O'Toole, Costello, Coghlan, Cregan, O'Meara, O'Dowd and Kett have all called for a debate on the health service. I have no difficulty in allowing time for this. As has already been said, £5 billion per year is now being spent on the health services. The annual allocation to health has been doubled since the Government came to power in 1997. An additional 80,000 people annually are availing of the services. With the increase in population, demands are much greater. This debate will also have to include the hepatitis inquiry. I will certainly allow an all-day debate on it.
When? Today?
I look for full co-operation and the attendance of all Senators at that debate.
Senators O'Toole and Chambers called for a review of how the Government should spend its tax revenue in coming years. Time can be allowed for this. I will pass on to the Taoiseach Senator O'Toole's views on protocols, which I share.
Senators Costello and Bohan have informed the House that there will no price increases by the Dublin vintners for the remainder of the year. Senator Costello also requested a debate on drink prices. In my opinion, the delay in issuing ID cards to young people must be investigated as a matter of urgency. I understand there have been delays of 12 to 14 weeks on the part of some Garda stations in this regard. The Minister and the Government might consider allowing commissioners for oaths or peace commissioners to assist the Garda Síochána in issuing ID cards.
The Senator also requested a debate on the sale of Clancy Barracks. This issue was raised during the Private Members' debate on Defence Forces modernisation last week. However, I will review the matter in a few weeks.
Senators Cosgrave, Norris and Coogan offered their congratulations to the Taoiseach, the Government and Fianna Fáil members in the Seanad on the 75th anniversary of the Fianna Fáil Party, which was founded on this day in 1926. I thank the Senators for their comments. My party's great leaders – Éamon de Valera, Seán Lemass, Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and the current Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern – have given great service to Ireland and its people. We have been looking forward to this day for some time and we hope that the party will continue with the good work it has been doing in the national interest.
Senator Cosgrave also called for a debate on the Ombudsman's report. I have already given a commitment to make time available for this, but I must give consideration to when debates of this nature can be held. Due to the amount of legislation – three Bills per week – that will be introduced in the House during the next four to five weeks, I will be obliged to discuss with the Whips and the leaders the possibility of sitting until 10 p.m. on Tuesday evenings to try to facilitate calls on the Order of Business for urgent debates.
Senator Cox requested a debate with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government on future housing strategy and on funding for councils. I will make time available for such a debate.
Senators Jackman and Norris expressed their views on refugees and asylum seekers. A debate on this issue will take place during Private Members' time this evening and I look forward to the participation of all Senators.
Senators Fitzpatrick and Liam Fitzgerald called for a debate on the cost of motor insurance premiums. The Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business is currently investigating the motor insurance industry and is expected to complete its report in the coming weeks. When this happens, I will make time available for a debate on the matter.
Senator Norris called for a debate on the UN Convention on Torture and I will make time available in that regard.
Senator Chambers requested that the Minister for Public Enterprise come before the House to debate the issue of broadband services. I have no difficulty in allowing time for a debate on this issue.
Senator Dino Cregan welcomed the Government's major investment of £60 million in Cork Airport. I informed the House and the Senator a number of weeks ago that I understood such an investment was about to be made. I share his pleasure, and that of Senator Quill and other Members from the fair city of Cork, at this massive investment which is a vote of confidence in the city of Cork, its airport and the people who work there, who have given dedicated service over the years.
Senator Coghlan expressed views on a number of matters, as he always does so well, and I will communicate them to the relevant Minister.
The first matter raised by Senator O'Meara is more relevant to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs rather than the health boards. I will pass on her views to the Minister. Senator O'Meara, in supporting the call for a debate on the health services, informed the House that she knew of a patient who had been on a waiting list for three years. If she passes on the name of the patient concerned to me, I will use my position, as Leader of the House, to see what I can do.
May we all pass on similar cases to the Leader of the House?
Order, please. The Leader of the House to continue without interruption.
I make the offer to Senator O'Meara. Senator Lanigan called for a debate on the Middle East, for which I have already allocated time. Senator Coogan called for a debate on radon gas. I accept the call and will allow time for a debate. Senator O'Donovan called for a debate on regional roads with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government present, for which I certainly will make time available.
Is the Order of Business agreed to?
No, it is not, because the Leader of the House did not indicate that he will provide time today for a debate on the health services.
Legislation takes precedence in the House and has always done so.
Question put: "That the Order of Business be agreed to."
Tá
|
Bohan, Eddie.Bonner, Enda.Callanan, Peter.Cassidy, Donie.Chambers, Frank.Cox, Margaret.Cregan, JohnDardis, John.Finneran, Michael.Fitzgerald, Liam.Fitzgerald, Tom.Fitzpatrick, Dermot.Gibbons, Jim.Glennon, Jim.Glynn, Camillus. |
Kett, Tony.Kiely, Daniel.Kiely, Rory.Lanigan, Mick.Leonard, Ann.Lydon, Don.Mooney, Paschal.Moylan, Pat.O'Brien, Francis.O'Donovan, Denis.Ó Fearghail, Seán.Ó Murchú, Labhrás.Ormonde, Ann.Quill, Máirín.Walsh, Jim. |
Níl
|
Burke, Paddy.Caffrey, Ernie.Coghlan, Paul.Coogan, Fintan.Cosgrave, Liam T.Costello, Joe.Cregan, Denis (Dino).Doyle, Joe.Hayes, Tom. |
Jackman, Mary.Keogh, Helen.Norris, David.O'Dowd, Fergus.O'Meara, Kathleen.O'Toole, Joe.Ridge, Thérèse.Ross, Shane.Taylor-Quinn, Madeleine. |
Tellers: Tá, Senators T. Fitzgerald and Gibbons; Níl, Senators Burke and Ridge.
Question declared carried.